WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the 30th anniversary of the Chinese crackdown on dissidents in Tiananmen Square.
“The human tragedy that took place 30 years ago in Tiananmen Square went against the fundamental human rights that all people are entitled to across the globe: freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of religion. The violent crackdown on dissidents will forever be a stain on China’s history, despite all attempts by the Chinese government to erase such memories. The world remembers a lone man standing in front of a tank, ready to sacrifice himself for freedom. The world will remember the cruelty and the authoritarian response to people who only wanted to have more control over their own livelihoods.
“China so wants to be a respectable member of the world community, yet three decades after Tiananmen, it still fails to recognize that respect for its citizens and good governance are what lead to a stable and prosperous country, not repression, corporate piracy and undercutting the rule of law.
“America’s strength is in its values and I truly hope that we will continue to hold China accountable for its actions and work to ensure that such events are not repeated. Although not surprising, it has been a great disappointment that China, with the largest population in the world, cannot do better by its own people. On this important anniversary, we must continue to voice our concerns on restrictions and abuses faced by the Chinese people, especially ethnic and religious minorities. In the not-so-distant future, I hope we are able to look back and see progress made through dialogue, transparency, and a respect for universal human rights.”
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